UN-OHRLLS and World Bank Pre-conference Event on Transport Development and Trade Facilitation

New York – June 12, 2013 – Senior government officials, development partners, United Nations representatives will gather in Washington on Thursday to discuss transport development and trade facilitation in the world’s landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).

The meeting co-organised by the UN Office for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the World Bank is being held as part of the ongoing preparatory process of the Comprehensive 10 Year Review Conference on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action for LLDCs that will be held in 2014.

The meeting is expected to substantively review the progress made in improving transit transport infrastructure and services, and trade facilitation to assist LLDCs to easily access international markets. Participants will also identify the major achievements; lessons learnt and best practices as well as find solutions to the ongoing constraints that need to be addressed in the future. The outcome will feed into the draft outcome document of the 10 Year Review Conference on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action.

The opening session of the meeting will feature statements by H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations and Chairman of the Group of LLDCs; Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya UN USG and High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS; and the World Bank Acting Vice-President for Sustainable Development Zoubida Allaoua.

About UN-OHRLLS

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001